ABSTRACT
Located on West Africa’s coast, the Republic of Sierra Leone has a population of about 6.8 million people. The Portuguese origins of the country’s name translates to “Lion Mountains,” referencing the hills that surround the capital of Freetown, one the largest natural harbors in the world. The primarily agricultural country has deposits of gold, diamonds, bauxite, and rutile. Large ethnic groups include the Mende and the Temne; English and Krio are the nation’s official languages.
